Chair provided with an adjustable back



Sept. 25, 1962 B. F. J. VAN DER MEER ETAL 3,055,706

CHAIR PROVIDED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE BACK Filed Feb. 6, 1961 FlG.2

Unite l Sees CHAIR PRQVIDED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE BACK Bernardns F. J. VanDer Meet, Delftsche Straatweg 8,

Pijnacker, Netherlands, and Jacob A. Sterling, Julianalaan 12,Montfoort, Netherlands Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 87,434 Claimspriority, application Netherlands Feb. 12, 1960 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-358)The invention relates to chairs of the type provided with an adjustableback.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved structure for achair of the type having an adjustable back .and a seat rigidlyconnected to a frame.

With respect to a chair of the type in which the seat is rigidlyconnected to the frame, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved structure wherein selection may be made between two positionsof an adjustable back, and which structure is particularly suitable forapplication in motor buses, touring cars, aircraft and similar vehicles.

In the first of the above positions, the back should be in vertical orsubstantially vertical alignment, and a restricted chair height shouldbe provided so that the view of anyone sitting behind the same isobstructed as little as possible.

In the other of said positions, the back must give the user comfortablesupport in a reclined position, with the users head resting on the upperend of the back. According to the invention in this second position, theback, in addition to being pivoted rearwardly, is also extended. Thus, apractical support of the users head can be obtained withoutnecessitating that the back in the first position obstructs the view ofanyone sitting behind.

A chair according to the invention is characterized by the provision ofan improved means for pivotally supporting a back relative to a framehaving a seat thereon, said means comprising a lever pivotally supportedon the frame and connected to said back and further comprising a pin onthe back and guided in a slot such that the back is elevated and tiltedby operation of the lever and such that the back is supported by saidpin when tilted.

The invention will next be explained with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-view of a chair provided in accordance with theinvention with one of the covering plates removed therefrom to show theinterior construction; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIlI of FIGURE 1.

The chair in the drawing is provided with a rigid frame 1 which may beconstructed of metal tubes and upon which a fixed seat 2 is mounted. Theframe supports two arm rests 3 which .are constructed in the shape of aU-profile 4 having side covering plates 5 and 6 on opposite sides.

The back 7 is indicated in FIGURE 1 with solid lines in the forwardposition and with dotted lines in the backward raised-end position. Theback 7 is connected with a shaft 8 located at the lower edge of the backand the ends of which engage the arms of a lever 9 having fulcrums 10which are located on both sides of the back and which are carried bysupports 11 connected to the frame 1 of the chair. The arm of the lever9 includes Patented Sept. 25, 1962 a projecting part 12 engaging one endof a spring 13, the other end of which is connected to a lip 14 on theU-profile 4. One of the levers 9 supports an operating arm 15 providedwith a control knob 16. Said arm 15 passes through a slot in the body ofthe U-profile 4.

Each profile 4 supports a guiding plate 17 provided with a guiding slot18 for guiding a pin 19 connected with the back 7.

The apparatus works as follows: When the user of the chair wishes tomove the back 7 from the forward position into the position shown withdotted lines, he moves the control knob 16 downwards in the direction ofthe arrow X. The shaft 8, together with the back 7, is forced upwardsinto the position 8' and the pin 19' moves to the position 19'. The backmoves to the position 7. The section 21 of the slot 18 deviates from thevertical direction and is inclined rearwardly. When reaching thissection of the slot 18, the pin 19 begins to rest on the bottom of theslot. Part of the weight of the back is consequently supported by theguiding plate 17 whereby the load on the arm of the lever 9 is relieved.Due to the effect exerted by the spring 13 on arm 9, a proper locking ofthe back in the end position shown in dotted lines is obtained. By alifting of the control knob from the position 16 in the direction of thearrow Y, the back 7 can be readjusted to the end position shown in solidlines.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair comprising a frame, a seat rigidly coupled to said frame, aback, and means pivotally supporting said back from said frame to tiltand simultaneously elevate said back with respect to said seat andindependently thereof; said means comprising a lever pivotally supportedon said frame, a pin pivotally connecting said back to said lever, and afurther pin on said back, said frame being provided with a guide slotfor guiding the latter said pin, such that said back is elevated andtilted upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction, said guideslot being provided with an inclined portion for automaticallysupporting said latter pin with the back elevated and tilted.

2. A chair comprising a frame, a seat rigidly coupled to said frame, aback, an arm lever pivotally supported on said frame, a pair of crosspins on said back and spaced from one another, said frame being providedwith a guide slot for one of said cross pins, said lever being coupledto the other of said cross pins for adjusting the position of the backwith respect to the frame in response to pivotal movement of said lever,said guide slot being oriented such that said back is elevated andtilted with respect to said frame upon pivotal movement of said lever inone direction, the slot being provided with a terminal portioncorresponding to an elevated and tilted position of the back, whichterminal portion is inclined from the vertical for supporting said onepin therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,970,800 Herreshotf Aug. 21, 1934 2,486,716 Kuebler Nov. 1, 19492,638,150 May May 12, 1953

